Playful singer returns to Frontier
By Eileen O. Daday
Daily Herald Correspondent
Rick Springfield may be 57 years old and recorded his biggest hit, “Jessie's Girl” more than 25 years ago, but you would never know it by the number of screaming fans who turned out Saturday night in Arlington Heights.
Springfield headlined Frontier Days at Recreation Park, making his first return to the festival since playing there in 1999.
Fans, admittedly mostly women, positioned themselves for his entrance, with cameras and phones in hand, while others held bouquets of roses — one of his trademarks — and posters to sign.
“He’s adorable,” said Lisa Padar of Schaumburg. “He has such a playful personality and sparkling eyes.”
Wearing a sleeveless black shirt and jeans, the rock star threw rose petals to the crowd, and kicked off a 90-minute set, with “Who Killed Rock ’n’ Roll.”
It would take until nearly the middle part of the set before he hit his stride and sung one of the crowd’s favorites, “Don’t Talk to Strangers.” Fans in the crowd sang along to the 1982 hit, and some of them even got a chance to sing the chorus in his microphone.
Later he would thrill his fans with an intricate guitar solo, that resonated on stage amid the black lighting and fog special effects.
“Not bad for a doctor,” Springfield quipped, referring to his role as Dr. Noah Drake on the soap opera, “General Hospital.”
For the song, “Human Touch,” Springfield jumped out into the crowd, and body surfed through the first 30 rows or so, later in a lawn chair, while performing the song.
The chance to see Springfield perform — for free — drew some fans to camp out for a front row lawn seat, while others put down their blankets before dawn. Arlington Heights Police estimated that approximately 8,000 fans sat in the park’s infield to watch Springfield, slightly less than Friday night’s crowd to hear the band, Kansas.
Gina Scala of Schiller Park was one of those who spent the night at the park, in order to reserve her spot. Even though she knew Springfield’s playlist by heart, and regularly sees him perform, being in the front row was worth it, she said.
“It’s just such a great show, he’s so interactive and playful,” Scala said. “I suppose in a way, it’s a way of reliving my youth.”
Another die-hard fan, Anita Cooper of Waukegan, figures she has seen him perform more than 200 times over the last nine years.
“When he looks at you, his eyes go right to your soul,” Cooper said.
Fans got what they were waiting for at the end of the set, when he sang the ever popular, “Jessie’s Girl.” Springfield tried to end the concert on that note, but came back to perform an encore, closing with “Love is Alright Tonight.”
|
